Magnet controlled apparatus



Dec. 17, 1968 w. BARNEY 3,416,335

MAGNET CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Jan. 10. 1967 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

WALTER BARNEY BY Maw ATTORNEYS Dec. 17, 1968 w. BARNEY MAGNET CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Jan. 10, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 17, 1968 w. BARNEY MAGNET CONTROLLED APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 10, 1967 INVENTOR.

WALTER BARNEY M$7QJEZQJ A 77'0PA/EYS United States Patent 3,416,335 lHAGNET CONTROLLED APPARATUS Walter Barney, 4720 Rubio, Encino, Calif. 91316 Filed Jan. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 611,214 8 Claims. (Cl. 70-134) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a key member in the form of a card containing one or more concealed magnets for reception in a slot to in turn actuate one or more locking magnets within the slot structure to thereby release a movable member to enable opening of a door. In this respect, where a plurality of magnets are included in the door lock structure, it is necessary that all be actuated by the magnets in the card in order to release the movable member and enable the door to be opened. The physical positions of the magnet in the door lock structure determines the positions of their respective poles and if the corresponding opposite positions are not provided by the magnets in the card, the mechanism will not operate. Therefore, a large number of combinations can be provided and only the correct card is capable of unlocking the door mechanism.

In my US. Patent No. 3,215,903 entitled Magnetically Controlled Circuit, issued Nov. 2, 1965, there is disclosed a switching means for closing an electrical circuit operable by authorized keys in the form of cards having hidden or undiscernible magnets embedded therein. When a proper card key is employed, an electrical switch is closed to carry out a particular function such as operating an electrical door lock, turning on a pay television set, or effecting any other operation.

In most such systems, an external source of power together with a relay is usually necessary to carry out the actual operation in response to use of the card key. This is because the magnets themselves incorporated for triggering the operation do not ordinarily provide suflicient power to perform a direct physical action.

With the above in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a self-contained unit which will enable the carrying out of a given operation in response to the presence of a coded magnetic card without the necessity of any external electrical power.

More particularly, it is an object to provide an improved magnetic card operated mechanism in which the coding may be easily changed so that maximum security is assured.

A particular object of this invention is to provide an improved door lock operable by means of a magnetically coded card which does not require any external electrical power to the end that complicated wiring systems and the like may be avoided.

Briefly, these and many other objects and advantages of this invention are attained by providing a movable member cooperating with a blocking means incorporating individual magnets movable respectively between first and second positions. The arrangement is such that each of the magnets when in their first positions serve to block movement of the movable member so that the only manner in which the movable member can move is to have all of the individual magnets moved to their second positions. The movable member itself may be coupled to any suitable mechanical lock mechanism for the door or may be coupled to enable operation of any other apparatus.

A key means in the form of a flat base member generally in the form of a card is provided and includes a plurality of permanent magnets having north and south poles oriented and positioned in such a manner that dis- 3,416,335 Patented Dec. 17, 1968 position of the card in a given relationship adjacent to the blocking means will serve to simultaneously move the various individual magnets in the blocking means to their second positions to enable movement of the movable member.

In accordance with an important feature of the invention, any one or more of the individual magnets within the blocking means may be reversed so that a desired code may be pre-established and prevent operation of the mechanism by unauthorized cards.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by referring to one specific embodiment thereof as set forth in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the basic components of the magnet controlled apparatus for a door lock;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view illustrating the various components in first positions in which the door is locked;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is another front elevational view illustrating the relative positions of various components when the door is in unlocked position;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the components shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of some of the basic components making up the structure illustrated in FIGURES 1-5;

FIGURE 7 is another exploded fragmentary perspective view of one of the components shown in FIGURE 6; and,

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary cross section taken generally in the direction of the arrows 8-8 of FIGURE 6 with the parts in assembled relationship.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown a basic mounting plate 10 receiving a door knob spindle 11 rotatable by a door knob 12. The spindle 11 includes a spindle portion 13 integrally connected to the knob 12 and to a clutch mechanism. This clutch mechanism includes a disc 14 integrally secured to the portion 13, a central clutch disc 15, and spindle disc 16 so that the clutch disc is sandwiched between the discs 14 and 16 as shown. The spindle 11 is integrally secured to the plate 16, there being permitted a certain amount of friction slippage against the clutch disc 15. By this arrangement, any turning force on the knob 12 exceeding a pre-determined value will simply cause slipping of the clutch disc with respect to the plate 16.

The spindle 11 carries a locking disc 17 provided with a centrally offset projection 18. About the projection 18 there is provided a closed frame member 19 connected through a coupling 20 to a ring member 21 in turn passing over a hook 22 as shown. The hook 22 is integrally secured to the lower end of a movable member in the form of a plate 23.

Cooperating with the movable member 23 is a blocking means comprising a plate 24 coupled to the member 23 by constraining links 25 and 26. With this arrangement, the movable member 23 is capable of parallelogram type movement with respect to the blocking means 24. This movement is checked by an upper stop means 27 rigidly secured to the blocking means 24 and a lower stop means 28 rigidly secured to the mounting plate 10.

The blocking means 24 includes a plurality of cylinders 29 mounting a corresponding plurality of pairs of pins 30, 30', projecting in a direction parallel to each other and normal to the blocking means 24. The lower ones of these pins 30 normally bear against the member 23 preventing movement thereof. The upper ones of the pairs 30 are received in channels 23' formed in the movable member 23. A biasing spring 31 may be coupled between the movable member 23 and the blocking means 24 to provide a slight upward force on the member 23 so that it will be held in its normal position against the upper stop 27.

A key means in the form of a card 32 is arranged to be received within a slot or guide way 33 in the blocking means 24 to enable retraction of the lower pins so that the movable member 23 may move downwardly against the lower stop 28. This downward movement in turn lowers the frame 19 to free the projection 18 so that the knob 12 may rotate the spindle 11 of the door.

The foregoing operation will become clearer by referring now to FIGURES 2, 3, 4, and 5.

With reference first to FIGURE 2, various components are shown in the same position as illustrated in FIGURE 1. In this position, it will be evident that the spindle 11 cannot be turned in a clockwise direction because of the projection 18 bearing against the lower end of the frame 19. In the particular example chosen for illustrative purposes, the spindle 11 may terminate in a pinion cooperating with a rack structure forming part of a throw bolt 34 as indicated in dotted lines. With the throw bolt 34 in the extended position as shown, the door will be locked, and since the spindle 11 cannot be rotated in a clockwise direction because of the projection 18 and position of the frame 19, the door is effectively locked.

As more clearly illustrated in FIGURE 3, it will be noted that the various pins 30 extending from the blocking means 33 bear against the movable member 23 and thus prevent any downward movement thereof.

Upon insertion of the card 32 as illustrated in FIG- URES 4 and 5, the various pins 30 are released for retracting movement by the member so that the member 23 may move downwardly against the stop 28. This downward movement will lower the frame 19 and thus permit rotation of the spindle 11 as illustrated in FIGURE 4 by the arrow. This rotation will then retract the throw bolt 34 and unlock the door.

The manner in which the various pins 30 are released to enable retraction thereof to accommodate the inward component of movement of member 23 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 will be clear by referring to FIGURES 6, 7, and 8.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the slot 33 terminates at its lower end on small ledges such as indicated at 35 and 36 present only at the opposite lower corners of the slot so that any card of less width than the card 32 will simply drop through the slot. When the card 32 is in the slot, its face is adjacent to the face 37 of the blocking plate 24 and thus juxtaposed to the bases of the various cylinders 29. As indicated by the dotted lines, the card 32 incorporates a plurality of magnets 38 which are concealed therein in such a manner as to be visually and tactually undiscernible.

With particular reference to FIGURES 7 and 8, each of the cylinders 29 includes a reduced diameter portion 39 arranged to be received Within an opening 40 in the blocking means 24. This opening preferably includes diametrically opposite keying grooves 41 and 42 for cooperating with a transversely disposed, biased projecting rod 43 in the reduced diameter cylindrical portion 39 of the cylinder 29. By this arrangement, the cylinder 29 can be inserted in only two possible circumferential positions separated by 180 degrees.

As shown specifically in FIGURE 7, the inner end of the reduced diameter portion 39 includes a split brass ring 44. Also, the cylinder includes bores 45 and 46 dimensioned to receive the pins 30 and 30' shown in FIGURE 6.

Referring specifically to FIGURE 8, the cylinder 29 also includes a transverse bore 47, the ends of which are closed by the brass ring 44. Within the transverse bore 47, there is provided a magnetic responsive member in the form of a permanent magnet 48 having north and south poles as shown. The magnet 48 may be inserted within the transverse bore by rotating the brass ring 44 until its split portion exposes one end opening of the transverse bore. After the magnet has been inserted, the ring 44 may be rotated around to the position shown in FIGURE 7 to block both ends and thus contain the magnet 48 within the transverse bore.

As is clear from FIGURE 8, the two bores 45 and 46 which run parallel to the axis of the cylinder intersect opposite ends of the transverse bore 47. The various pins 30 and 30' in the embodiment described for illustrative purposes are received in the bores 45 and 46 of each of the cylinders. As shown clearly in FIGURE 8, there is provided a small biasing spring 49 associated with each pin and arranged to engage under an enlarged head portion 50. This spring 49 serves to bias the pins 30 to their extended positions against the movable member 23. Stops 51 prevent complete removal of the pins.

In the absence of the card 32 incorporating the magnets 38, the magnet 48 within the transverse bore will fall by gravity to its lowermost position and thus block retraction of the pin 30. When the card 32 is inserted, its lower edge will engage the small ledges 35 and 36 of FIGURE 6 so that the concealed magnet 38 therein will be in proper position relative to the magnet 48 to attract the same and move it from its first position in which its lower end blocks the pin 30 to prevent movement of the member 23 to its second position illustrated in FIGURE 8 in which the inner end of the pin 30 may be received within the transverse bore to allow downward movement of the member 23.

From the foregoing description, it will be immediately evident that in order to unblock or enable movement of the movable plate 23, all of the individual magnets within the various cylinders 29 must be moved from first lower positions to second raised positions to release the various pins 30. If any one magnet is not moved, its pin will bear against the lower end thereof, thereby to prevent downward movement of the member 23.

It should also be noted that the magnet 48 in the transverse bore can only be moved it its polarity is opposite to the polarity of the magnet 38 concealed within the card. If the polarity of the magnet 48 were the same as the polarity of the magnet 38, the magnet 38 would simply hold the magnet 48 in its lowermost position, the like poles repelling each other.

As a consequence of the foregoing, it is an easy matter to code the various cylinders so that only a card including concealed magnets in a given orientation and p0sition will be effective to move the magnets. Thus, any one or more of the cylinders 29 may be removed the plate 24 and rotated degrees and then reinserted to effectively reverse the polarity of its magnet 48. Unless a similar change in the polarity of the corresponding magnet concealed within the card 32 is effected, insertion of the card will not move the particular magnets reversed so that their corresponding pins which will now be the pins 30' will be blocked from retracting and thus the plate 23 cannot move between the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 8 to the solid line position. When a properly coded card is used so that the pins 30 can retract, the pins 30, which are now in an upper position, will be received in the channels 23'.

Accordingly, a very simple means is provided for enabling a certain operation to be carried out if a properly coded card is provided. Furthermore, this operation may be carried out without the necessity of any external source of power so that when the structure is employed as a door lock, no extraneous wiring and the like is necessary.

Further, it will be evident that an actual slot or guide way structure 33 is unnecessary, it only being required that the card 32 be placed adjacent to the bases of the various cylinders in a given position. Towards this end,

the remaining portion of the blocking structure 24 may be omitted so that a person in operating the lock need only press his card against the surface 37 rather than insert the same within a slot.

The channels 2 3' in the member 23 may be omitted if all upper pins 30' are similarly omitted. In this case, in changing the code by removing one or more of the cylinders and rotating them 180 degrees and reinserting them, it would be necessary to also remove the pins and replace them in the lower bore. There would then be present the risk of dropping or losing some of the pins. Thus, by using the channels 23', the upper pins are inelfective in blocking the member 23 but are available when the cylinders are reversed. Since the pins need never be removed in this latter situation, they may be held in the cylinders by the stops 51 as described.

The various cylinders of course could be rectangular in cross section rather than circular to provide the keying feature of permitting insertion in only two orientations.

While the structure has been described in conjunction with operatinga simpled door lock, it will be evident that any other operation such as closing of switches or turning on of various auxiliary equipment may be effected in response to; movement of the member 23 which is controlled by the key means in the form of the card 32. Thus, while only one specific embodiment has been set forth and described, the invention will have numerous applications in other fields.

What is claimed is:

1. A magnet'controlled apparatus including, in combination: a stationary member; a movable member adjacent said stationary member; a blocking means carried by said stationary member including a plurality of elements adapted for movement by said movable member, and respective magnetic responsive members disposed in first positions preventing movement of said elements and hence said movable member; and, a key means incorporating a plurality of magnets each having north and south poles oriented and positioned such that disposition of said key means with said magnets adjacent said magnetic responsive members establishes magnetic forces to move said magnetic reponsive member from said first positions to second positions to free said elements and movable member for movement.

2. A magnet controlled apparatus including, in combination: a movable member; blocking means in the path of said movable member including a plate member supporting a plurality of pins extending in parallel directions therefrom, each pin being capable of individual move ment into said plate member from extended positions; a plurality of magnetic responsive members having first positions for blocking movement of said pins into said plate member and having second positions for freeing said pins for movement into said plate member, said movable member being blocked by each of said pins against movement when said pins are in their extended positions, whereby said movable plate is free for movement only when all of said magnetic responsive members are in their second positions; and a key means incorporating a plurality of magnets each having north and south poles oriented and positioned such that disposition of said key means adjacent to said blocking means moves said magnetic responsive members from said first positions to said second positions to free said movable member for movement.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, in which said plate member includes a plurality of cylinder receiving openings; a plurality of cylinders receivable in said openings and each including a transverse bore adjacent its base for supporting one of said individual magnetic responsive members for transverse sliding movement from one end of said bore corresponding to its first position to the other end of said bore corresponding to its second position, each of said cylinders also including two bores parallel to the axis of the cylinder and intersecting the opposite ends of the transverse bore, each of said plurality of pins being respectively received in one of said bores of each cylinder so that retraction of said pins is physically blocked by said individual magnetic responsive members when in their first positions and whereby movement to their second positions permits retraction of the inner ends of said pins into said transverse bore.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, in which each of said individual magnetic responsive members constitutes a magnet having a north and south pole, the orientation of each magnet being reversible with respect to the remaining magnets by removing said cylinder and reinserting it after rotating it degrees, each of said magnets in said key, means being effective to move said magnets in said transverse bores only when its poles are oriented in an opposite sense thereto whereby the orientation of the various magnets in said cylinders and said key means may be pre-established in accordance with a code so that only a key means incorporating magnets of a given orientation is capable of freeing said movable member for movement.

5. An aparatus according to claim 4, in which said blocking means includes a guide way adjacent to the bases of said cylinders, said key means comprising a flat base member receivable and supported by said guide way in a position adjacent to said blocking means to move said magnetic responsive members.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, including constraining means coupling said movable member to said plate for constraining movement thereof to a direction having a component normal to said plate to engage said pins and in which said apparatus includes a door lock means coupled to said movable member and held in locked position when said movable member is blocked from movement and released to unlocked position when said movable member is free to move.

7. In combination:

a stationary member having pins slidable therein, said pins extending from one surface of said stationary member,

said stationary member having a respective stop engageable by the inner end of each pin to limit movement of said pins into said stationary member;

a movable member adjacent said stationary member and adapted for movement between first and second positions relative thereto,

said pins being movable by said movable member in moving from its first to its second position, said second position of said movable member corresponding to the positions of said pins wherein their inner ends engage said stops; means normally urging said pins outwardly so that their inner ends do not engage said stops;

and respective magnets supported 'by said stationary member for movement into and out of blocking positions between said stops and the inner ends of said pins,

said magnets normally being located in said blocking positions, thereby to prevent movement of said movable member to its second position, said magnets being adapted to be moved out of said blocking position under the influence of magnetic fields, thereby to permit the movable member to move the pins against said stops.

8. The combination of claim 7, including a card having a plurality of magnets embedded therein,

said card being adapted to be positioned with respective magnets therein adjacent the movable magnets,

the adjacent card magnets and movable magnets being so poled that said movable magnets are moved out of theirzalocking positions under the 3,111,834 11/1963 Felgm 70--276 influence of said card magnets. 3,215,903 11/1965 Barney 200-46 References Cited MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 ROBERT L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner.

2,121,301 6/1938 Ractlitfe 70276 U.S. C1. X.R.

2,769,873 11/ 1956 Noregaard 70-276 XR 70-276, 413 

